Atajic pleases Frail in draw with Burnley

Bahrudin Atajic earned the praise of Stevie Frail as Celtic’s development squad drew 3-3 yesterday at Burnley.

The Bosnian brought up in Malmo dropped out of the picture with last season’s u-19 side but has made an impressive start to the new campaign.

Four goals in three matches for the u-20 side earned him a call up to the first team squad at Inverness on Saturday with yesterday’s display against the Championship drawing further praise from Frail.

“Bahrudin is looking much more like the player that attracted our attention when  we signed him,” Frail admitted. “He’s shown up well for the u-20 squad this season and deservedly earned a place with the first team at Inverness.

“All in he’s a fantastic football player and he’s now showing that in games. He strikes the ball well, he’s got good feet,  takes up good positions and always has an eye for goal.

“He was the sole striker against Burnley and played the role well. He linked up with the midfielders and took on a lot of responsibility.”

Frail’s side had been gathered from far and wide with  Joe Chalmers, Marcus Fraser, Callum McGregor and Jackson Irvine coming in from the first team squad with John Herron returning from international duty in Norway with Scotland’s u-19 side.

At half time Celtic found themselves trailing by two goals but Fraser and Herron scored midway through the second half with substitute Lewis Kidd equalising after the home side had gone 3-2 up.

“The first half was very disappointing,” Frail admitted. “We’re a better team than we showed in that half and we proved that to an extent after the break.

“Strangely enough I took more out of losing 4-0 to Fulham the previous week because we played well in spells and didn’t deserve to lose by that margin.

“Glenn Daniels pulled off a few good saves but apart from Paul Slane I don’t feel that many of the players did themselves justice.

CELTIC: Daniels: Fisher, Thompson, Fraser, Blackman: Irvine, McGregor, P Twardzik: Slane, Atajic, Chalmers

SUBS: Kidd for Twardzik, Herron for Irvine

GOALS: Fraser, Herron, Kidd